True glory and peace
Luke 2:1~14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. (14) Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #210 Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken (#245 in previous version) Many people regard peace as having no worries, having no wars and quarrels or having no envies or jealousy. However, is not having problems or quarrels really the definition of peace? The Bible tells us that if we believe in the words of Jesus, we will see the glory of God (John 11:40) and that peace would come on earth (Luke 2:14). What is true glory and peace, and what must we do to enjoy it?
1. The absolute mystery of glory and peace
The peace that the world considers is only momentary, but the peace that the Bible speaks about is eternal. For mankind who were by nature bound to live under wrath and woes, God sent Jesus Christ to this earth. Jesus came to this earth to completely destroy the authority of hell, Satan and curses. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of man and became Christ by rising from the dead. When we believe in Jesus, we will come to enjoy true glory and peace.
2. True glory and peace that the Bible speaks about
Lazarus from the Bible was a beggar who had no one to turn to, but he knew the Gospel. On the other hand, the rich man had great wealth and held feasts every day, but without the Gospel, he felt empty. Ultimately, Lazarus who was a child of God went to heaven and the rich man went to hell. From the world’s perspective, the rich man with great wealth seemed to have glory compared to Lazarus who had nothing. However, true glory and peace were found in Lazarus who believed in Jesus Christ and received salvation.
3. Prayer of enjoying the glory and peace of God
God’s children have the privilege to receive answers when they pray. As people who are saved, we can enjoy glory and peace through prayer. If we believe that the Holy Spirit is with us and guides us at this moment, we can overcome problems by the plan of God, no matter how many problems arise before us or how bad our circumstances may be. When we pray to God, He answers us with the best things and adds onto us the spiritual power regardless of our abilities or limitations.
- We must restore our sense of spiritual identity that we are the children of God when we are seized by anxiety and worries about different problems and troubles. Let us meditate on the Word of God and pray to know what true glory and peace are that God gives to us. Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2012.7.15